Today, at Sotheby’s new flagship premises in Paris, the names of the charities set to benefit from the sale of the ‘Presidents’ Barrel’ at the next legendary Hospices de Beaune wine auction are revealed for the first time. They are Médecins Sans Frontières and Global Gift Foundation of America, both of which will be represented at the sale on November 17 by leading names Dominic West and Zabou Breitman, and Eva Longoria and Jean Reno respectively. The ‘Presidents’ Barrel’ will be one of the star lots in the 164th iteration of the Hospices de Beaune Wine Sale – an auction made up of barrels produced by the estate from parcels of lands generously donated to the Hospices over five centuries. Each year, proceeds from this legendary sale are used to fund the work of the Hospices Civil de Beaune’s hospital programmes, with a ‘Presidents’ Barrel’ generously donated by the hospital to a cause chosen for its relevance to the particular theme of the year.

This year, the Hospices Civils de Beaune has pledged its commitment to ‘One Health’, a fitting theme given that the institution has already begun to place the relationship between health and the environment at the heart of its operations. In fact, the 164th edition of the Hospices de Beaune wine sale is also set to mark an historic moment in the auction’s history, as it will present the first fully certified organic vintage, produced by the estate from the 2024 harvest. The complete conversion to organic farming is the culmination of the exceptional work carried out by estate manager Ludivine Griveau and her team over the past ten vintages since she joined as chief winemaker in 2015. The Hospices Civils de Beaune has also embarked on a major investment programme to modernise its facilities. More specifically, 2024 will see the launch of the construction of a new 15,000 square metre building on the Beaune site. Funds raised from the sale will help finance this ambitious project to improve patient care and working conditions for the staff.

Marie-Anne Ginoux, Managing Director, Sotheby’s France, said : “We have had the pleasure of working with the extraordinary Hospices de Beaune team for four years now. This is an institution and a cause we are honoured to champion, with all our combined resources, dedication and energy. We have been keenly focused on spreading the word, and broadening the audience, for these very special wines, which we have showcased in no fewer than twelve cities – from as far afield as Seoul and Dubai, to Monaco, Taichung and Fort Lauderdale. Interest in Burgundy remains as strong as ever and this is echoed in the increasing global appreciation we have seen for Hospices de Beaune wines.”

Ludivine Griveau, Manager of the Hospices de Beaune wine estate, said: “Just as the road to our organic certification was being mapped out, this vintage forced us to follow a trajectory that, while fluctuating, was, in hindsight, exciting. Robustness, tenacity and commitment were the cornerstones of this extraordinary experience. This year will undoubtedly have opened up a world of possibilities: one in which diƯiculty is not an obstacle to success, and even less so to quality.” This year, a total of 51 cuvées – divided into 33 red wines, 18 white wines and two cuvées of eauxde-vie – will be offered across 449 lots, featuring : 321 barrels of red wines and 118.5 barrels (117 plus three half barrels) of white wines. With the addition of the unique Presidents’ Barrel and seven barrels of the eaux-de-vie, the sale comprises 447.5 barrels in total. The full sale offering will be listed on sothebys.com, where the auction will also be livestreamed at 2.30pm CET on November 17th.

Representing the pinnacle of the calendar in Burgundy, the annual Hospices de Beaune wine sale established in 1859 has become not only the world’s most famous wine auction but also a vastly important cultural phenomenon in the region. The sale is the centrepiece of a three-day week-end in November known as Les Trois Glorieuses, when wine lovers descend on the town of Beaune for the opportunity to acquire barrels of wine produced from vineyards covering 140 plots across the Hospices’ 60-hectare holdings. Every year since 1945, during the auction, a special barrel called the Presidents’ Barrel – also called the Pièce de Charité, or Pièce des Présidents – is sold separately for the benefit of one or more charities of the Hospices de Beaune’s choosing.

The Presidents Barrel: This Year’s Charities of Choice
This year, the proceeds from the sale of the charity barrel will benefit Médecins Sans Frontières, the international medical humanitarian association founded in 1971 by doctors and journalists to provide medical assistance to people whose health or lives are threatened in France or abroad; and Global Gift Foundation of America, a humanitarian Non-Profit organisation founded in 2013 by the Spanish actress, businesswoman and philanthropist, María Bravo, with the aim of  creating a positive impact on the lives of children, women and families, who are in a situation of vulnerability and / or at risk of social exclusion. Represented at the auction by actors Dominic West and Zabou Breitman, MSF has chosen to allocate the funds to its fight against neglected tropical diseases, debilitating and fatal diseases with complex epidemiology, which mainly affect poor populations in rural tropical areas. Represented at the sale by actors Eva Longoria and Jean Reno, Global Gift Foundation has chosen to allocate the funds to Casa Ángeles, a day centre located in the city of Marbella created with the aim of improving the quality of life of children with special needs and their families. The Presidents’ Barrel houses a unique Beaune Premier Cru, Les Bressandes, produced from a single plot within the estate which is usually used for four other cuvées (Nicolas Rolin, Guigone de Salins, Dames Hospitalières and Brunet). The barrel itself has been crafted by the Billon cooperage in Beaune, using wood from the Bertranges forest in Burgundy, one of the jewels of the Nivernais region. With its deep ruby colour, an intense bouquet of fresh red fruit and round tannins, and silky texture, the wine is already showing great balance.

To mark the occasion of the 164th sale and the estate’s first fully certified organic wines, the Hospices Civils de Beaune commissioned an illustration from Christophe Merlin to appeal both to long-time enthusiasts and newcomers. An accomplished illustrator and author of over 100 books, Merlin’s fresh design serves as a timeless symbol of Burgundy and its renowned wine auction.

This article was published on October 23rd, 2024.